Union Officer Describes The Fall Of Petersburg

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004

A great war-date ink inscribed Union officer’s 1p. 8vo., letter written by 1st Lieut. Arthur C. Huidekoper, Co. A, 211th Penn. Vol. “Headquarters 2nd Brig. 3rd Div. 9th A. C. April 4, 1865”concerning the severe fighting at Petersburg and Richmond which resulted in the fall of both cities, in part: “…we had a hard fight yesterday. Our division took the works before Petersburg. The enemy tried hard to retake the line, but was defeated. This morn we took Petersburg. The enemy evacuated during the night. I am safe…Bagley is safe…[we] were in the fight all day & night. Capt. [Elias B.] Lee was wounded badly. I am afraid it will prove mortal. [He died April 5, 1865]. Our loss was rather heavy. The enem[ies] was very heavy. The 3rd Div. (ours) did magnificently…”. Their loss was indeed heavy as they suffered over 130 casualties during the last assault upon Petersburg. Interestingly, Huidekoper also served, during the Gettysburg campaign, in a Pennsylvania Emergency Militia outfit. Very good.

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